SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Legalizing drugs will only make addiction grow"

Zell Zordel:
"Why is it that when the debate about legalizing drugs is mentioned, the drug war card is played? That's because it's a crutch. Now that it is out, let us address it.

Yes, America is encouraging other countries to participate in the drug war, with $40 trillion spent since 1971. In 2010 alone, the U.S. government spent $15 billion. The reason those laws were passed is because drugs were killing Americans. With the first laws passed in 1885, this is not just a 40-year-old issue.

Those are facts. Let's look at a few others.

My original letter of May 19 was about the real potential in human lives lost. I compared it to the very real and highly used drug, alcohol. I used that baseline to show the ever-so-likely outcome we would experience if we legalized drugs. I pointed out that all of the negative criminal impacts will not go away.

Mr. Kirchenwitz, in his May 24 response, commented that “any drug use in and of itself is generally non-violent.” I suggest he ask any law enforcement officer who has ever had to deal with a violent suspect what was driving the destructive intent. Most will respond with drug use or alcohol.

Remember, drug usage is still currently at a low level. Legalization will only increase the number of addictions due to easier access....." (Read more?  Click title)
"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Immigrant cares about legal vs. illegal immigration"

Anyone who has followed the citizen/Sheriff relationship between Bruno Kirchenwitz and Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario will instantly recognize the major significance of this support Bruno is showing for the top badge in the county.

It takes courage and stamina to keep standing up and/or getting back up when you know you must.  Kudos to you, Bruno.

"SandBox Nanny" is fairly certain Bruno's letter is being widely read in our area law enforcement community and that his support is appreciated.

Thank you to all of our law enforcement officers, deputies, agents, Chiefs and Sheriff's who uphold our immigration laws.  You are appreciated.

Bruno Kirchenwitz:
"The letters from Debbie Centeno (May 8) and Janett Centeno (May 9) so annoyed me I couldn't respond fast enough. First of all, when I call some deserving soul a liar, the Post Independent's civility police won't print it due to libel concerns. It's funny how often civility editing can be seen as bias against conservative viewpoints.

Janett Centeno is typical of the progressive “citizenship is just a piece of paper” crowd. She writes, “People could really care less whether a person is here legally.” Wrong, wrong, wrong.

She also says her illegal alien brother of multiple previous deportations “may not be a perfect citizen, but I know plenty of other wannabe gangsters who aren't being harassed.” Not only is Ms. Centeno's brother David Centeno not perfect, he isn't a citizen, ergo he is deservingly being deported.

I do care if people are here legally. I am a legal immigrant and naturalized citizen whose family followed the rules. We learned English, no bilingual education for us. No welfare, no food stamps, no free health care, no subsidized housing.

Legal immigration is what made this country great. Illegal aliens will rot our quality of life and turn America into the kind of Third World country Mr. Centeno ran away from.

I am overjoyed that Mr. Centeno was justly apprehended by our valiant sheriff and would love to see each and every illegal alien in America deported back to where they came from. Keep up the good work, Sheriff Lou Vallario....."  (Read the original letter?  Click title)

"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News/Letter to the Editor "Little guy gets burned again"

There was a time when Bruno Kirchenwitz had just a little, teeny bit of difficulty controlling his temper in local commentary.  Which made for a fracas or two between regional avatars and Bruno.

Since the shutting down of the infamous PI hub; Bruno has risen to the (sincerely) status of local hero in commentary when it comes to the topics of illegal foreign nationals or public education.

Here's to the little guy.

Let Freedom ring.

Bruno Kirchenwitz:
"Editor:

One school board begs for more taxpayer funds for the children, gets the extra funds for the children and promptly takes $1.4 million off the top for teacher bonuses. While every teacher gets $1,500 many non-teachers lose their jobs.

Another school board doesn’t fool the electorate and doesn’t get to hand out any bonuses.  Instead, they go to a four-day school week and save a half million at the expense of some 200 non-teaching staff. While no teacher loses a penny of pay, the cooks and janitors will each lose over $2,000 in pay annually.

Ain’t it funny how it’s always the little guy who takes it in the shorts?

I think it stinks...."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Times/Bruno Kirchenwitz "Tax dollars at work"

And then there are those out in the public commentary that have spent the last few years pushing away the denial of local governments and power brokers  to the point that when they speak up, the entire valley listens.

Who needs the Steve Skinners and SandBoxBlogs of the world when we have Bruno Kirchenwitz?

 Bruno Kirchenwitz:

"...If we want to retain the “good” teachers, why were all the teachers rewarded with those ill-conceived bonuses? Because the union says there is no objective way to economically discern between the good and the not so good.

I do hope all those generous taxpayers learn this union lesson well and remember when it comes hat in hand the next time, begging “for the children.”

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Times "Labor pains in Aspen"

Dear Editor:

I read with interest the conclusions a pair of papered pundits drew in their recently published “The Slums of Aspen.” They bear witness to what Aspen's workforce has become. But things were not always so.

Back when I first moved to the valley more than 30 years ago, there were very few illegal immigrants working in Aspen. The landscapers, the maids, the cooks and the rest of the working class were U.S. citizens.

My first job in Aspen was doing maid work with my wife at one of Aspen's finer hotels. We averaged more than $10 per hour and got to take home all the food and booze left in the rooms, and at season's end we each got a $450 bonus.

Thirty years later, the same job at the same hotel pays $8 per hour, you don't get any guest leftovers, and as a bonus you don't have to speak English. The authors' liberal bent must have prevented their distinguishing between legal and illegal workers.
(Bruno Kirchenwitz)

(Read the rest?  Click title. Comment to discuss)